Liverpool1 - 3Aston Villa

Liverpool were left stunned after their hopes of challenging for a top-four spot were hit by a loss to Aston Villa.

The home side went behind against the run of play when Christian Benteke arrowed a shot in off the post.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Rodgers riled by 'cheap' goals

Benteke's backheel set up Andreas Weimann for Villa's second, before the Reds were denied a penalty when Ciaran Clark pulled Daniel Agger's shirt.

Benteke made it three from close range for a resurgent Villa before Steven Gerrard netted a late consolation goal.

It was a second defeat in 12 games for Liverpool and will serve as a reality check to their growing levels of optimism and expectancy that they might be able to launch an assault on the Champions League places.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers had even claimed he was
looking higher than fourth place
but those comments came back to haunt him after his side were beaten by an improving and youthful Villa, who extended their unbeaten league run to five games to move up to 14th place.

Youthful Villa

Aston Villa's starting XI today was the youngest seen in the Premier League this season so far - they averaged 23 years, 309 days old.

The match had got under way following a minute's applause for former Liverpool captain and manager Phil Taylor, who passed away recently aged 95.

When the action did start, the home side were quickly given a wake-up call when Benteke headed a Barry Bannan free-kick straight at Reds keeper Pepe Reina.

Liverpool took this as the cue to take a grip of the game as they passed and probed for openings, although their lack of a clinical edge in the final third let them down.

This was epitomised when Luis Suarez could have put Gerrard clean through on goal, only for the Uruguayan to put his pass behind his captain's surging run.

Even though the ball was quickly worked back to Gerrard, he sent his 12-yard shot straight at keeper Brad Guzan.

Liverpool again had the Villa goal in sight when Suarez robbed left-back Chris Herd of possession before laying the ball off to Jonjo Shelvey, who had the ball cleared off his toes by a last-ditch Nathan Baker tackle.

Having provided a warning to the Merseysiders when Weimann had earlier broken clear before being shepherded wide and then tackled by Reina, Villa shocked their hosts after 29 minutes.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Lambert lauds 'sensational' Benteke

Brett Holman laid the ball off to Benteke and, afforded time and space, the Belgian fired a low 22-yard shot in off the post.

Weimann put an effort onto the roof of the net as he almost capitalised on Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson's poor back-header, before the Villa striker did extend his side's lead.

Weimann and Benteke beautifully combined and the latter's backheel allowed the former to sweep a shot past Reina.

Rodgers brought on Joe Cole for Shelvey at half-time and, while Liverpool had a decent claim for a penalty turned down for Clark's shirt-pulling of Agger, the home side rarely threatened a comeback.

Instead, Cole gave the ball away and Benteke waltzed through the gaping defence of the Merseysiders before slotting home a close-range shot.

Gerrard did find a way past Villa keeper Guzan with a header from Johnson's shot but it was too little, too late.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers:

"We probably got punished for our decision-making in that first 20 minutes, we were a bit careless.

"We could easily have been 3-0 up in the game and if we do that we can control it much better but we didn't have that final pass and bit of quality at the top end of the field.

"Then we went on to concede some poor goals. We weren't quite at it today with our intensity and pressure in the game and they were a threat on the counter-attack and got the goals."

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert:

"The whole performance was fabulous. The goals were excellent, as was the way we defended.

"I thought we were excellent. The goals were brilliant, the second goal, with the movement and the backheel, especially.

"Benteke has been unbelievable while Andi Weimann knows where the goal is. He's a natural finisher. His enthusiasm and work ethic are second to none."

Share this story

Comments

1st starting 11 and they're not too dissimilar quality wise except all important strikers. Johnson, Agger, Skrtyl, Lucas, even Reina and Gerrard are still top players and would get a regular game at most teams in the league - which is a v.poor league IMOUtd have been pretty avg in def/mid for most part, but they have real world class up top, giving so much confidence to the players behind.

478 hogwash be thy name - LFC have rubbish throughout their team - not 1 iota of quality - as much as i dislike MUFC they are miles upon miles better than LFC and have bags more quality and prestige than aforementioned team who wear red from a certain city in the NW !

Full credit to Villa - perfect away performance. Lpool's only problem is they don't have quality up front - could of been 3 up after 10 mins on Saturday.again.Fergie got grief for buying RVP instead of new mid/def, but he knew that you don't need that in premiership anymore, no real quality, so all you need are 2 top finishers. Lpool def/mid is no better/worse than Utd's, diff is RVP and Rooney.

@468 seen borini alot actually with swansea and at the start of the season, and i think the general consencus was he wasnt up to much,shortsighted?i simply pointed out to you that your owners did allow uz to buy a striker and there is better players for less money that could have been signed, thats a fact,and aston villa have the youngest team in the PL btw...just to point out,whats the difference

hardly a shock Liverpool losing at home these days. The stats say everything - Liverpool 26 shots Villa 9 !!!! Don't think anyone should be calling for Rodgers' head just yet, 99% of the blame must go to the prev ious clueless wally of a manager who bought a load of less than average players for shedloads of money. Sacking the manager now would be a very shortsighted move. Give him time

the probable answer to Liverpool's problem is to have a goal keeper with character and will power. The present one has none know. Jones is better and possibly luckier for Liverpool. Yes luck is important.

What a fantastic result. Yes the possession and shots stats are higher for Liverpool but it's the result that matters. After a slow start Lambert is beginning to show why Lerner brought him in, he gets the best out of players without spending money bucks. 7 million for Benteke is starting to look a bargain!

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.